Linda Smith's A Brief History of Timewasting is a BBC Radio 4 situation comedy show written by and starring Linda Smith. It ran for two series of six episodes each from July 2001 until July 2002.
Set in East London, where Smith herself lived, A Brief History of Timewasting concerned the struggle of a single woman to fill the day, helped by her inept, sugar-loving, live-in builder Chris (Chris Neill), morbid elderly neighbour Betty (Margaret John), and minicab driver Worra (Femi Elufowoju Jr). Supporting roles were played by Jeremy Hardy and Martin Hyder. Many familiar voices from Radio 4, including then-chief announcer Peter Donaldson, Thought for the Day regular Rabbi Lionel Blue, and Woman's Hour stalwart Jenni Murray, appeared as themselves.
The programme's page on the Radio 4 website says that the show was set in an East London tower block, but details of Chris's building work demonstrate that Linda and Betty lived in neighbouring terraced houses.
Following Smith's death in 2006, Jeremy Hardy revealed that Linda had been working on a third series.
Episodes Series 1 EpisodeOriginal airdateTitle112 July 2001"The Carpet Sweeper"219 July 2001"East End Mafia"326 July 2001"Opera, Gas, and Gardening"42 August 2001"A Day Trip to Romney Marsh"59 August 2001"Coffins, Funerals, and Nursing Homes"616 August 2001"999 Emergency"
Series 2 EpisodeOriginal airdateTitle14 June 2002"Fragile Peace"211 June 2002"Poltergeist"318 June 2002"Museum of East End Life"425 June 2002"New Islington"52 July 2002"Neighbourhood Watch"69 July 2002"The End of Timewasting"
References
Further reading Lavalie, John. "Linda Smith's A Brief History of Timewasting." at epguides Episode Guide at RadioListings
External links BBC Radio 4 page Modern (less informative) BBC page